NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A brazen $11 million wire fraud scheme has landed a Nigerian businessman behind bars.
Obinwanne Okeke, 32, the mastermind behind the Invictus Group, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud in a federal court in Virginia.
Between 2015 and 2019, Okeke and his cohorts carried out a string of computer-based frauds, targeting hundreds of victims worldwide, including those in the Eastern District of Virginia.
The scheme involved an email compromise scam, where Okeke and his team impersonated Unatrac Holding Limited, the export sales office for Caterpillar heavy industrial and farm equipment.
A phishing email tricked a Unatrac executive into divulging login credentials, allowing the conspirators to send fraudulent wire transfer requests and fake invoices.
Okeke’s crew managed to swindle nearly $11 million from Unatrac through a series of wire transfers, which were funneled overseas.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Samuels and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Mattis, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Okeke faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on October 22. However, actual sentences for federal crimes typically fall short of the maximum penalties.
The FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, led by Special Agent in Charge Martin Culbreth, played a crucial role in unraveling the scheme.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert J. Krask accepted Okeke’s plea, marking a significant victory for law enforcement in the fight against cybercrime.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of phishing scams and the importance of protecting sensitive information.
Related Federal Cases
- Jeffrey Phares, Wire Fraud Scheme, Fayetteville WV, 2023 · Alabama
- Sark Wire Corporation, PPP Fraud, Albany NY, 2023 · Georgia
- Jeffrey Phares, Wire Fraud, WHEELING WV, 2023 · Alabama
- William Frazier Sentenced to 51 Months for Wire Fraud, Midland GA, … · Georgia
- Barbara Holly Stahlman, Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft, T… · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News